Chemical constituents and pharmacological development of Terminalia chebula Retz.

As an important source of vegetable tannins, Terminalia chebula Retz.is increasingly applied to clinic, especially its strong antibacterial activities .Thus,the review concludes the chemical constituents and pharmacologial activities. Terminalia chebula Retz. mainly contains triterpenic acid,gallyl glucose,gallate and anthraquinone etc.They have the activities of antibiosis,antioxidation,antitumor and cardiotonic etc.